Five-toed whip lizard
A species of Tetradactylus Scientific name : Tetradactylus seps Genus : Tetradactylus
Five-toed whip lizard, A species of Tetradactylus
Scientific name: Tetradactylus seps
Genus: Tetradactylus
Content
Description General Info
Description
Five-toed whip lizards are skink-like lizards found in arid parts of South Africa. Unlike most seps, their legs are fully formed but small, with five toes on each foot. They are fast runners despite their stubby legs, and rely on their speed both to hunt and protect themselves.
General Info
Lifespan
15-20 years
Diet
Five-toed whip lizard predominantly feeds on a variety of insects, incorporating particularly ants and termites into its regular meals. Additionally, it indulges in seasonal fruit as a supplementary food.
Appearance
Five-toed whip lizard is a medium-sized lizard exhibiting an elongated, slender body shape. It has smooth, glossy scales chiefly in shades of brown and gray. A key trait of this species is its teardrop-shaped markings, which align into longitudinal striping. Furthermore, five-toed whip lizard possesses four toes on each limb, with prominent, curved claws enabling agile climbing. Males can be identified by larger heads and more robust bodies than their female counterparts.
Behavior
Five-toed whip lizard is nocturnal, adept at burrowing for shelter during the day. Their solitary tendencies surface during mating season, showing territorial, aggressive behavior towards competitors. For sustenance, five-toed whip lizard forages for small insects, adapting a 'sit and wait' hunting technique. Remarkably, five-toed whip lizard exhibits autotomy, releasing its tail as a defense mechanism if threatened.
Population
Stable
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Plated lizards Genus
Tetradactylus Species
Five-toed whip lizard 
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